Beekeeping is legal across Douglas County, Nebraska but every keeper must obtain a permit from the Douglas County Health Department under Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 6 (Animals), pay a $10 fee, and may be inspected. State-wide, Nebraska's Apiary Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2,165 et seq.) also applies.
Most of Douglas County lies inside Omaha city limits, where Chapter 6 of the Omaha Municipal Code (Animals) defines bees as a regulated animal requiring a permit issued by the Douglas County Health Department. Applicants submit the bee permit application to the Health Department at 1111 South 41st Street, pay a $10 fee, and may be subject to a property inspection before approval. Hives must be kept enclosed on private property. Across the entire state, including unincorporated Douglas County, the Nebraska Apiary Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 81-2,165 through § 81-2,180) gives the Nebraska Department of Agriculture authority to inspect apiaries, quarantine diseased colonies under § 81-2,170, and require disease reporting. Neighboring jurisdictions in Sarpy County such as Papillion and La Vista do not allow hives, so always confirm the rules of your specific city.
Keeping bees without a Douglas County Health Department permit is a violation of Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 6 and can result in citation, fine, and an order to remove the hives. Nuisance bee complaints are also enforced under Omaha Municipal Code Chapter 18 (Nuisances).
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